“I know we are all feeling hesitant, nervous, excited, scared, and not ready for summer to be over, but I hope we will all begin to get into the school mode and work our best to make this a great year. What is it that will make this year great? What will we learn this year that will impact us the most the day we leave Dublin?

Albert Einstein once said, ‘Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.’ This quote to me is very honest about what a true education means. Many people think that they need to remember everything they are taught in school, but it is what you take on with you, the aspects that we call the big picture, that impact you the most. The act of creating your own education by deciding what you think is important to work your hardest on. I believe that Dublin does an excellent job of teaching students what is important and what they will take with them for the rest of their lives. Dublin presents you with all of the tools and opportunities you need to create your own education and paint your own big picture.

The word educate comes from the Latin word educe, which means to bring forth. It is our challenge as students to bring forth our own and each other’s best qualities in creating our education. It is about learning how to learn, and not being afraid to challenge that potential. Don’t fear failure or criticism, but welcome them because they are the tools that will help you learn to educate yourself and take full advantage of this unique place and your Dublin education.” -Student speaker Julie Swanson ’12

“I’ve been searching for a common experience that we all might relate to. Maybe even a Hollywood version of neighborliness in action? I'll bet a lot of you saw the movie ‘Cowboys & Aliens?’ If you did, then you already know that cowboys, ranchers, shop keepers, outlaws, Native Americans, a good alien, a child and a dog all worked together to save not only their family and friends, but, indeed, the entire world from greedy, cruel, and very ugly aliens. (And if you didn’t see the movie, now I’ve told you everything about it, sorry.) Certainly it was this summer’s True Grit experience! Yes, the moral of this film is that being a good neighbor is easier with a horse to ride and a big hat on your head. Right? (Put on big hat.)

No, seriously, the moral of the story is recognizing the need and taking action as a member of the community, as a neighbor. But how can you recognize this need or take any meaningful action, if you don’t know who your neighbors are in your own community? You have to make an effort to get to know people you don’t already know. Since I’m a language teacher, I believe that the best way to get to know other people is to learn their language, modern or ancient. So, let’s start right now. No time like the present. At the very least we can all know how to say hello in the languages represented here at Dublin School So, recognize that need, that constant need that lives in you, which lives in me, the ever-present need to connect with another person. Put on your big hat, wave, bow, shake a hand, smile, learn people’s names and say hello in the language that best suits. Be a neighbor, become a friend.” -Ms. Herman